W&L’s Molly Biggs ’26 Earns Fulbright to Germany Biggs is looking forward to teaching English in Germany, where she can build on previous youth leadership experiences and develop important skills for a career in the climate sector.

By Emily Innes Stanley
May 18, 2026

Washington and Lee University senior Molly Biggs ’26 has been awarded a Fulbright English Teaching Assistantship (ETA) to teach English in Germany. At W&L, Biggs is an environmental studies major and German minor. Biggs is a native of San Francisco, California, and graduated from the Branson School.

The ETA program in Germany aims to strengthen educational and cultural relationships between the United States and Germany, with English Teaching Assistants teaching English language and American culture at all levels of German schools and facilitating projects that help students learn how to be global citizens.

Biggs has long been interested in international organizations and multilateral work, which she pursued through her on-campus coursework and opportunities abroad, and she plans to pursue a career in the climate sector working to expand the transition to green energy sources. She views the ETA as an important step in this journey because it will help develop her ability to collaborate proficiently in a second language and better understand the significance of cultural perspectives in international policy work.

The opportunity to complete a Fulbright in Germany is particularly exciting to Biggs because of the country’s participation in European Union climate policy leadership.

“Since most of my professional interests are relevant across borders, I see this Fulbright grant as an opportunity to practice communicating cultural differences in an educational setting and help foster mutual understanding,” Biggs said. “I hope to apply this experience to both domestic and international professional settings, as well as in my graduate studies.”

Biggs is also looking forward to returning to Germany after spending Spring Term 2024 in Berlin and Winter Term 2025 in Vienna, Austria. Studying abroad has profoundly impacted Biggs’ W&L experience, and she is grateful to have been able to supplement her on-campus learning with experiences abroad that expanded her horizons and introduced her to new perspectives.

“One of W&L’s strengths is the many opportunities we have as students to explore the world and apply what we’ve learned back on campus,” Biggs said. “I think it’s a big part of what makes our community interesting and open to learning from others.”

The ETA will also allow Biggs to continue working with students, something she has enjoyed by serving as a summer camp counselor, tennis coach and volunteer tutor over the years. She hopes to build upon these leadership experiences and “serve as a source of support and encouragement for [her] students in the classroom,” while continuing to learn herself by being in a different country and culture.

“As much as I hope to give to my host community, I also greatly value the chance to learn by experience and push myself out of my comfort zone with my German language skills,” Biggs said. “I have had some incredibly formative experiences traveling abroad in the past and I am excited to continue expanding my worldview by meeting people with all kinds of backgrounds and experiences.”

When Biggs arrived at W&L, she had taken 12 years of Spanish and decided that instead of placing out of the language requirement, she wanted to to learn a new language. She remembers sitting in her first German class with Debra Prager, associate professor of German and department head, and is grateful for Prager’s humor that first day — and her continued guidance in the four years since — as she wrapped her head around the new material.

“That class showed me how fun it can be to start at square one and ultimately encouraged me to continue with a minor in German,” Biggs said.

Biggs is also thankful for the support she has received from Jaime Roots, assistant professor of German; Paul Youngman, dean of the College and professor of German; Lisa Greer, the Harry E. and Mary Jayne W. Redenbaugh Term Professor of Earth and Environmental Geoscience; and Robert Humston, the John Kyle Spencer Director for Environmental Studies and professor of biology, who also served as Biggs’ environmental studies major adviser. Biggs would also like to extend gratitude to Matthew Loar, director of fellowships and student research, and Dallas Tatman, assistant director of fellowships, for supporting her through the fellowship application process.

On campus, Biggs serves as the president of the German Club and is a member of the Alexander Hamilton Society, Kappa Alpha Theta sorority and the Outing Club. She is also a volunteer for the American Red Cross and has worked as a language tutor through the Languages for Rockbridge program.

With the Fulbright award, Biggs will depart in September 2026 for her nine-month program. Upon completion of the program, Biggs plans to work in environmental consulting with a focus on renewable energy expansion or carbon emission scoping and reduction.

~~~

Washington and Lee University is proud to be included on the list of U.S. colleges and universities that produced the most 2025-2026 Fulbright U.S. Students for the eighth consecutive year.

The Fulbright Program was established more than 75 years ago to increase mutual understanding between the people of the United States and the people of other countries. For more information, visit https://fulbrightprogram.org/. W&L students interested in applying for the Fulbright U.S. Student Program should contact Matthew Loar in the Houston H. Harte Center for Teaching and Learning (Leyburn 114) or by email at mloar@wlu.edu.

If you know a W&L student who has done great, accolade-worthy things, tell us about them! Nominate them for an accolade.